Most visitors to Lourdes are probably drawn by the prospect of spiritual healing, but for Katherine, it seems to be more about the men! Katherine is one of the residents at The Manor Cheshire home in Brampton and she tells me they supply very handsome French Male carers when she travels to the famous French shrine.
With us in The Manor’s spacious community area is Lois, one of their regular volunteers. Katherine and Lois have clearly built up a very special relationship. Lois is teaching Katherine how to use a computer and Katherine is teaching Lois how to make necklaces.
Over the next few months I will be involved promoting charities around Huntingdonshire. I’m really keen to support all of the heroic volunteers in our area who give up their time. I want to tell their story of what they do and what they have achieved by volunteering
Leonard Cheshire Disability was set up by the famous RAF Hero. The home here in Brampton has 21 residents.
What really struck me when I visited was that places like The Manor Cheshire Home are not about the buildings but about the incredible people who work and volunteer like Steve who organises fortnightly music therapy sessions. John who has been a resident for just over a year tells me that he is the drummer. Judging by the enthusiasm with which residents Janet and John tell me about how they lead the way with renditions of all the Abba songs this approach really seems to work.
Janet is very chatty and loves to sing
Of course having the right facilities helps but the people are the vital ingredient. Billie is the energetic volunteer co-ordinator at Leonard Cheshire Brampton.
Billie is remarkably honest about her personal journey.
‘I am ashamed to say this but I was the type of person who crossed the road when I saw somebody disabled. I became involved as a volunteer and now I am the volunteer co-ordinator. It’s the best job ever.’
‘We currently have 38 volunteers but in an ideal world I would really like to have three or four volunteers per resident’.
Some come in every few days, while others can only manage monthly visits. Some stay a few hours, others all day – but I saw for myself what a massive difference even a few hours can make.
The organisation will provide all of the necessary training.
Billie tries to ensure that volunteers can build a proper relationship with individual residents by pairing them.
‘They can just have a chat or some residents like to go out and do activities like bowling, trips to the cinema or just a good long walk. We have special disabled facilities for fishing which volunteers can use. We also have a super arts and crafts area which volunteers can use with the residents’.
Filling a wall upstairs I saw quite an array of pictures, bracelets and necklaces, all made by residents. Occasionally they need a little extra help. Most residents have some form of physical restriction to their movement, but it only takes a little help for them to get busy turning out items that can later sell on stalls to raise money for the home itself.
Bill just asked me to read to him which we both really enjoyed
Fund raising is also a joint venture between residents and volunteers. Billie told me they recently raised £11,000 for a special bath which has been very popular.
“Part of our fundraising efforts is through organising sponsored treks and bike rides. These are really popular. We have an Everest base camp trek , a Morocco Sahara trek and a Rainforest trek later this year. Closer to home we’re also organising a Hadrian’s wall weekend challenge. On the bikes we’re organising a London to Paris in 5 days or for the more adventurous we have a bike ride from Ho Chi Minh to Angkor Wat.!’
Catherine will be doing her bit on June 13th at the annual Manor Home fete, where she will sell her necklaces. That is if she makes it back from Lourdes without being whisked off by a handsome French prince…
I came away from my day at Leonard Cheshire with a far greater understanding of how volunteers are crucial to the quality of life of residents. They make an astonishing difference. If you would like to volunteer then please contact Billie on 01480 413817.
The Manor Cheshire Home
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